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Designer Creates Playable Neckties From Recycled Cassettes

by Terrence O'Brien on November 4, 2009 at 07:25 AM

Playable Neckties Made from Recycled CassettesSome people just can't give up cassettes. And while the format may survive as a burgeoning business in prisons and in the U.K., the non-incarcerated here in the U.S. seem to prefer to re-purpose their cassettes into something gimmicky and nostalgic, like the Maxell cassette iPod case.

The latest recycling of cassettes, though, might be the best yet: Sonic Fabric. The brainchild of Alyce Santoro, Sonic Fabric combines cassette's magnetic tape with traditional fabrics to create a textile that is completely unique. Besides its distinctive, slightly shiny appearance, Sonic Fabric maintains the magnetism of the tape -- meaning that if you ran a tape head over it, it would still produce sound. Since we're sure most don't have a spare tape head sitting around, you can head to the Improbable Projects MySpace page to hear examples of what this sonically imbued fabric sounds like.

Sonic Fabric is nothing new. In fact, it was "played" onstage by Phish percussionist Jon Fishman back in 2004. What is different is Santoro's partnership with fashion designer Julio Cesar, who helped create the Sonic Fabric Necktie, the first wearable consumer product made with the audible cloth. One of these stylish ties commands a rather hefty price ($140), but it's well worth it, if you ask us. Drop a few bills on one and you'll look stylish, earn geek cred, and likely have an article of clothing none of your other friends ever will. [From: Fast Company]
Playable Neckties Made from Recycled Cassettes

Tags: cassettes, design, sonic fabric, sonic fabric neckties, SonicFabric, SonicFabricNeckties, top

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